Tag: my trip
Sweet addictions
October 4, 2010
I’m getting ready for my travel to Morocco this month. Thoughts about my plans bring up some little sweet dreams from Paris:
This i like going to a paint store. All shades and colors. Yu-mi.
Now this delectable cake above is what I call “High-end design of dreams”. Just look at this thing. Would you even dare to touch it? eat it? But on a second thought I’d probably would. You would too.
Now this one is crazy gorgeous. It’s delicious too. The round macaroons on the cake here remind me the design on one of our rugs, “Pebble”. Wow, back to back inspiration.
Have an HSM – Happy Sweet Monday everybody.
Insane India
September 13, 2010
The Taj-Mahal (shown left) is way more magnificent and overwhelming in real life.
I don’t know how to put it in words but I cannot describe what India is all about and if I do it would take more than a blog. I’ve visited India a few times and believe me I haven’t seen nothing yet. It’s a never-ending country with a never-ending culture, people, languages and religions. It’s incredible. The very long flight, anticipation, delays and everything else that come with travel, once I landed all the headache and fatigue were well worth the effort. India is a country that’s impossible to believe.
You can’t miss India on the map. Surrounded by wall of Himalayan mountains and large seas this land is full of contradictions. It’s massive and exaggerated. A world in itself. I felt in a complete trance, a feeling that stayed well rooted in my soul long after I returned home.
When I left the air craft I could smell ashes in the air. I looked up and saw foggy skies. It was late and a thick layer of pollution was floating above my head. It didn’t bother me, I was too excited to see what’s ahead. I felt fortunate to arrive to India and discover a whole new world, life. Fifteen hour flight is no picnic and Jet-lag didn’t hit. Yet. Landing at night was the best because I got to go right to sleep and woke up the next morning to a new world, literally.
Lobby of a very chic hotel in India, Shangri-la
Same hotel lobby displays elaborate flower arrangement. A visual feast.
It feels alluring to wake up in the morning and a lush glamorous arrangement of flowers welcomes you. Everything in the hotel was luxurious. The interiors, arrangements of furniture, the bar, restaurants even the elevators all looked well thought out. Young Indian girls wearing magnificent traditional Saris lead us to the breakfast room. Service was impeccable. But wait! this is not the real India. The point is, one step outside the hotel and the real adventure begins. Let me add that staying at a chic hotel in India helped keep my sanity for the night. It was too much to take in. It was insane.
Indian breakfast and tea Masala was part of this unforgettable experience. Simply a treat.
It seems that there are more Rickshaw on the roads than any other transportation in India. In mid-day this circular area is crazy with traffic we got dizzy. Looking at this photo I can still hear the noises of buses, cars, motorcycles, rickshaw. We risked our lives trying to cross the streets. ‘Run don’t walk’ was our motto. Traffic rules? what rules?
Poverty in India is beyond words and this is a mild short memoir of what I’ve seen. My first image of a very young girl, a baby, wearing only a t-shirt. She was trying to reach the balls that hung on the other side of the fence. She wasn’t afraid to climb the railings to get those soccer balls while traffic was swirling around her. Didn’t seem to bother her the intense heat shooting through the asphalt and burning her little feet. I admired her persistence. Don’t know if she reached to the balls. The sidewalk was stationed in a middle of a very busy intersection in Delhi. I had enough time to follow the girl with my eyes and wonder about her and many other children in India. I was afraid she would get hurt, fall on the hot asphalt or get hit by a car. I looked around but no one was there but her. Was she an orphan? hungry? tired? I couldn’t get my eyes off of her until she vanished from my view as we drove away.
Different ways to explore India:
The best way is by Rickshaw, in my opinion (if you can stand the scorching sun unless you arrive between Oct-March). When we visited around April the sun hit 125 degrees F., we decided to go on a Rickshaw for a leisure “walk”. Yeah, we thought we’d turn to heroes. Take a cab. With AC.
I looked at these juicy fruits and all I thought about was my colored pencils and rug designs. Yes, as much as I enjoyed being there I couldn’t wait to return to the office and draw my inspirations.
If you notice there is a sign by the first fruit on the second row: “Dragon fruit”. It’s from the ‘cactus’ family (No wonder it looks creepy). It’s pink and green on the outside with white or super red flash inside. BUT, delicious.
On my visit India celebrated Dewali holiday known as festival of lights. The staff at our hotel decorated the floors with painted rice, to create shapes of flowers. Yes, painted rice. By hand. Meticulous and time consuming but results in an unbelievable focal point.
How creative is that. So gorgeous.
More on India and the Taj-Mahal click here.
kings, love and desire. Cyprus.
August 4, 2010
“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money”. anonymous
Funny but true. My trip to Cyprus was spontaneous and so was the content of my luggage. I could leave it home and simply take only a bathing suit (don’t forget the money). It was scorching hot.
After about half hour flight plus five hour delay prior, we landed in Limassol, the second largest city of Cyprus. Off the plane and out of the airport it hit me: the heat people, the heat! It’s in your face. Add a good chunk of humidity and one can turn into a steamed meat in 60 seconds flat. But no regrets here. Limassol is a sassy small Mediterranean island but big on personality. It’s full of history, archaeological sites and night life. An island of kings, of love, of desires.
photo credit: sigal sasson
photo credit: sigal sasson
photo credit: sigal sasson
Troodos mountains
We took a ride on the mountains.
We loved walking around tiny streets. Getting to know the unknown.
Old villages and monasteries, narrow and curvy streets. I even spotted the tiniest post office I’ve ever seen. Entry ways adorned with flower pots.
Agios Georgios monastery
Nuns occupy monasteries where they grown their own herbs and make their own artifacts.
Alamanos monastery
one of the many monastery arches
I love the purple painted arch. What a bright contract against a neutral surrounding.
view from the rooftop: Troodos mountains
It was so quite and serene. I could hear my heartbeat.
Impressive Greek invention: weaving loom. A tradition that dates back to medieval time
A visit to an old Greek house that turned into a museum revealed an impressive Greek invention: hand looms, we were told, helped families to survive by weaving their own clothes.
Greeks are known for being practical
The luxury of a simple living
picking grapes at the monastery vineyard
Cyprus produces excellent wines and the old monastery owns wine production facility. It was hot outside and the the Sultana grapes on the property looked juicy. We had to end the visit so I picked a hand-full of grapes (we were allowed) and rushed to eat them before they turn into raisins. They were so yummy.
Paris – my one and only
July 30, 2010
“Paris is much like a lover, infused with secrets and passions. The kind of lover I will never get punished or feel bad for having” Sigal Sasson
Yes indeed. This highly anticipated trip made me dream and imagine Paris in my head up until the moment I landed. And even after. But than things got even better. Was I lucky.
Paris is not only beautiful. It’s seductive, splendor. Intoxicating. I was ready like a pride lioness to “swallow” her and breath every speckle of French dust particle in this magical place. There was so much to take in not only the beautiful sights but the atmosphere, the people whom surprisingly were very nice and pleasant, the gorgeous young ladies (I love French ladies, ladies), who go to work dressed like there is no tomorrow. The food, desserts. Ahh desserts. Did I mention that one day I will speak French? Well, I am now (mentioning that is).
One thing I can tell you, too much of a good thing can leave you numb in a sort of way, you know what I mean?
Let’s stop talking. look and, by all means, drool:
Arc De Triomphe is so impressive it’s hard to miss. We literally risked our life trying to take this picture by standing in the middle of the street (not a smart thing to do).
tiny Parisian street, one of my little discoveries while in Paris
I wonder why not living like a Parisian girl in Paris? Strolling little streets wrapped by a sparkly river, flowing houses with tiny windows open wide and pure morning sunshine wash french walls with glory.
Why not stopping at every French pastry shop and eat delectable divine sweets like it’s nobody’s business? (I did). Or to holding a beautiful crystal globe filled with dark red wine that shimmers like diamond and toasting to life.
Or sitting and people-watching others who watch you too in a tiny cafe, indulging on Cafe-au-Lait topped with rich buttery cream.
Why not treat myself to a bite of that sweet solid roasted cacao, the French call ‘Chocolat’, filled with white cream and covered with colorful shiny dust sprinkles, gently melts in my mouth?
Or staying at a magnificent palace filled with rooms decorated in rich silks and crystalline chandeliers? and let’s top all that with gorgeous plush rugs casually lay on the floor and I am walking around bare foot……. *sigh* why not?
La vie est belle. But don’t get me wrong here. Italy is not out of the question.
Some more Parisian dolce:
The highlight of the day – the Eiffel Tower, all lit in blue and looked grand and glamorous in a dark night, waiting for my arrival.
It was on my birthday. Imagine standing right under and looking all the way up to take a photo. Dizzy.
Contemporary French rooms. So glamorous.
O.k. that’s a big one. I mean this store is insanely addictive and gorgeous. The colors, fabrics, clothes, smells, women, food, desserts, elevators, display, shoes shoes shoes, oh-my-god-I’m-running-out-of-breath-here. Everything is soooo gorgeous in this store. I got out of there feeling dizzy. You would too.
Gallery Lafayette department store in – the epitome of Parisian shopping experience.
I love to play with makeup. In a big beautiful store. In Paris. No worries allowed.
Yes. I want this view from my terrace 24/7
Oh, more of Paris. More is so much more.
Want more? o.k.
The hotel room where we stayed
…every night my long time butler lays a beautifully written note on my bed…with weather update…bed perfectly made…decorated with silk throw pillows…he never forgets to leave, every night, sweet and decadent chocolate.
Yeah right. In my dreams.
Don't miss a visit to Louvre Museum
The museum has an impressive collection of sculptures and antiquities made by some very talented artists from around the world. You will find some very unusual artwork in form and in size, as you can see.
Parisian siesta. I should be doing some of that…
More French design.
…little peace of heaven in the middle of Paris…even on a winter day. Stunning.
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